Mayo Clinic Creates Database of Safe Skincare

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I thought I'd post yet another article from June 2002's Skin and

Allergy News. This one talks about a new database that the Mayo

Clinic put together that lists safe topical products for those with

contact dermatitis and sensitive skin. Whether it's useful remains to

be seen.

Take care,

Matija

Database features 1,500 products

CARD Helps Patients Manage Contact Dermatitis

Mahoney

New England Bureau

A Mayo Clinic database that helps patients avoid antigens identified

by patch tests will soon be available via the Internet to members of

the American Contact Dermatitis Society.

The Contact Allergen Replacement Database (CARD) generates lists of

skin care products free of patients' known allergens, according to

Dr. Yiannias of the Mayo Clinic in sdale, Ariz. CARD has

been in clinical use at the Mayo Clinics in sdale and Rochester,

Minn., for 3 years and has been received favorably by patients and

doctors, said Dr. Yiannias, creator of the database.

CARD is comprised of the formulations of more than 1,500 skin-care

products available in the United States, including soaps, shampoos,

conditioners, moisturizers, sunscreens, and cosmetics, as well as all

topical prescription medications listed in the Physicians' Desk

Reference and all over-the-counter topicals listed in the PDR for

over-the-counter drugs.

The database includes widely available skin care products marketed by

large companies and all of the major hypoallergenic product lines

currently available. The database is continuously updated to include

new products and changes to existing product formulations, Dr.

Yiannias continued.

Use of the Mayo Clinic database can potentially enhance the speed and

completeness of the resolution of eczema, compared with the use of

standard patient-education approaches alone, commented Dr. Yiannias.

Because it is set up to recognize cross reactions, formulation

synonyms, and similar antigens, CARD minimizes the possibility for

patient confusion caused by misleading product labeling or by

difficulty remembering allergen names that are typically long,

difficult to spell, and linked to numerous complex synonyms.

The majority of participants in a short-term prospective study of 27

Mayo Clinic patients considered the allergen-free product list to be

somewhat to very helpful in managing their contact dermatitis. Dr.

Yiannias and his associates are embarking on a longer, 100-patient

trial to determine if CARD can be associated with statistically

significant improvements to long-term clinical outcomes in dermatitis

patients.

The Mayo Foundation, in cooperation with the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and

Fragrance Association, will provide free access to CARD to all

members of the American Contact Dermatitis Society sometime later

this year.

For more information, see the American Contact Dermatitis Society Web

site at http://www.contactderm.org/presidents_message.html.